The radioactive fallout caused radioactive material to deposit itself over a large areas of ground. It has had an effect over most of the northern hemisphere in one way or another. In some local ecosystems within a 6 mile (10km) radius of the power plant the radiation is lethally high especially in small mammals such as mice and coniferous trees. Luckily within 4 years of the accident nature began to restore itself, but genetically these plants may be scarred for life.
Firstly, there was a huge increase in Thyroid Cancer in Ukranian children (from birth to 15 years old). From 1981-1985 there was an average of 4-6 patients per million but between 1986 and 1997 this increased to an average of 45 patients per million. It was also established that 64% of Thyroid Cancer patients lived in the most contaminated areas of the Ukraine (Kiev province, Kiev city, provinces of Rovno, Zhitomir, Cherkassy and Chernigov).
Thyroid Cancer is cancer of the tyroid gland, a gland found near the larynx that secretes growth and metabolism hormones.
There have also been increases in other cancers, mainly in the population living in the most contaminated areas and the people who helped clean up the accident.
There has been an increase in psycological disorders such as anxiety, depression, helplessness and other disorders which lead to mental stress. These disorders are not a consequence of radiation, but a consequence from the stress of evacuation, the lack of information given after the accident and the stress of knowing that their health and their children's health could be affected.
The worst contaminated areas were economically, socially and politically declining as the birth rate had decreased and emigration numbers had substantially risen which had caused a shortage in labour force. These areas could not evolve industrially or agriculturally because of strict rules that were introduced because the area was too contaminated. The few products made were hard to sell or export because people were aware that it had come from the Ukraine and so were scared of being affected, this caused a further economic decline. Socially people have been limited on their activities making everyday life very difficult.
Now in the year 2000, everything is looking a lot better and is starting to rise again and probably in about 10 years time almost everything will be as good as normal in the Ukraine.
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